WHAT’S NEW


NEW F. BALL TRAINING OFFICER


F. Ball and Co. Ltd. has added to its team of experts who deliver industry-leading training courses at the state-of-the-art F. Ball Centre of Excellence, with the appointment of Adrian Barker as training officer.


Working alongside F. Ball head of training Tim Green, Adrian will promote best practice in


flooring installation by delivering free training courses at the purpose-built facility and further afield according to customer requirements.


Adrian brings nearly four decades’ flooring industry experience to the role. Starting his career in 1987 on a youth training scheme with a small family-run flooring contractor, where he worked for 10 years installing textile and resilient floorcoverings in commercial settings, he later founded his own business installing carpet and LVT in retail locations.


He also began delivering training for flooring apprentices for a construction industry training provider.


KERAKOLL MAKES ACQUISITION FOR INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY


Commenting on his appointment, Adrian said: “I developed a preference for F. Ball products throughout my career – my local technical representative always supported me with answers to queries and solutions for projects. I have also attended training courses at the F. Ball Centre of Excellence and was impressed by the standard of provisions and the overall culture of the organisation – they even helped with the development and delivery of my own courses. So, it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to join the team.”


All flooring professionals can attend courses covering all aspects of subfloor preparation and floorcovering installation at The F. Ball Centre of Excellence for free, including specialist courses for both apprentices and seasoned professionals, involving practical demonstrations and exercises using high-performance F. Ball products.


Adrian has a daughter with his wife, Jane. He enjoys competing in long-distance running and triathlon events, including ultra- marathons and Ironman triathlons, and is chairman of his local running club, where he has been a member for over 15 years. He is also a Manchester City season ticket holder.


www.f-ball.com


Kerakoll and Steda Holding B.V have announced the completion of a strategic partnership agreement that involves the acquisition by Kerakoll of 60% of Caltra Nederland, a subsidiary of Steda Holding.


Caltra Nederland is a Dutch company specialising in the development, production and sale of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and low-carbon clinker. The company was founded in 1984 by Ludo van Nes, whose daughter Daniëlle and son Stephan have been at the helm since 2013.


Caltra currently operates three production plants, with a fourth plant under construction also in the Netherlands, which is expected to be activated by the third quarter of 2025.


The aim of the transaction is to combine skills and resources to develop alternative binders with low carbon emissions, grasping the opportunities offered by the transformation of the cement sector, committed to reducing environmental impact, and by the implications for the premixed products sector.


The decarbonisation of construction – with the cement industry responsible for about 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions – is one of the most important future challenges to achieve zero


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emissions. The use of additives, alternative materials and circular economy solutions, are some of the most promising solutions to reconvert the industry’s business models.


Fabio Sghedoni, vice president of Kerakoll Group, said: “The acquisition of a majority shareholding in Caltra marks a further step forward in the innovation and sustainability process embarked on by Kerakoll.


“The current market trends require creative thinking and a broader vision, with a proactive approach aimed at embracing change: this is exactly how Kerakoll has been operating since its foundation.


Marco Zini, Group CEO of Kerakoll, commented: ‘With this strategic operation, our Group secures an important international presence, in the heart of Europe, in terms of know-how on components that will be crucial for the development of alternative cements, such as SCMs and low-carbon clinkers. Direct access to the best sources of supply of these strategic raw materials will, in fact, increasingly be a critical success factor for the sustainable future of the building and construction world.”


www.kerakoll.com www.tomorrowscontractfloors.co.uk


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